Microsoft Pushes Urgency of Regulating Facial-Recognition Technology

Friday, 7 December 2018Microsoft Corp. is urging governments world-wide to enact regulation of facial-recognition technology next year that requires independent assessment of accuracy and bias and prohibits ongoing surveillance of specific people without a court order.

Facial recognition software is getting more accurate and cheaper, but it isn't without serious risks of bias, discrimination and concerns over privacy. Microsoft President Brad Smith came on Cheddar to call for regulations on the nascent technology. "The time to act is now," he said.